WHEREAS, given the opportunity for adequate rehabilitation services, blind people can compete on terms of equality in the work- force;
WHEREAS, despite our capacity to be active and productive in our communities, the State of Maryland Department of Vocational Rehabilitation ( DVR) has
never provided adequate services to promote the full integration of the blind on terms of equality;
WHEREAS, this is further aggravated by DVR’s recent elimination of 204 positions and a $ 5 million budget reduction for rehabilitation services;
WHEREAS, a further deterioration of services to the blind in Maryland occurred with the reduction in Title XX assistance, forcing Blind Industries and
Services of Maryland to close its Rehabilitation Program in Bethesda, thus abandoning the residents of Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties;
WHEREAS, a report issued by the Office for the Maryland Attorney General shows that DVR has disregarded the mandate of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by
failing to give priority for rehabilitation services to the “ most severely handicapped.”
WHEREAS, the percentage of rehabilitation funds allotted for services to the blind of Maryland is lower than almost any other state in the country: Now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland assembled this 1st day of November, 1981, in the City of Grantsville, Maryland, condemns
and deplores the policies of DVR which perpetuate inadequate services to the blind.
BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that we call upon the members of the Maryland General Assembly to make the administrative and structural changes necessary to provide
consolidated rehabilitation services which will be more cost effective and will permit blind persons to achieve first- class status, as taxpayers, rather
than wards of the State; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ( provided that meaningful reform can be achieved such as a specified percent of regular Federal and State rehabilitation appropriations
for direct services to blind persons and a requirement that regular Federal and State rehabilitation funds be available to permit the blind rehabilitation
client to purchase equivalent services from any facility or organization of his or her choice anywhere in the nation) we call upon the U. S. Congress to
provide sufficient funding for the purpose of operating needed rehabilitation programs.